It might have been while trying to slip into that little black dress. Or maybe when pulling on those jeans that used to fit just right. At some point, many of us realize that we might need a little help smoothing out those minor bulges and rolls. Wearing Spanx or other similar shapewear products is an option, but liposuction at my practice near Chandler, AZ, can provide long-lasting results, so you can ditch the shapewear and feel beautiful in your own body.

Many patients contemplate their options for months, or even years, before deciding they want to pursue liposuction. I offer different liposuction techniques at my practice to ensure that the treatment can be customized to each patient’s specific needs. Various factors ultimately influence the choice to get liposuction, and in this blog post I’ll describe 4 signs that indicate you’re ready to take the step to permanent fat reduction.

You’re tired of feeling squeezed: Shapewear can be a great option for a 1-time or short-term fix, but shapewear squeezes your body, which you may grow tired of over the long-term. Also, YouTube has a trove of painfully relatable videos showing women getting stuck in Spanx. Even though it can be a bit funny to watch, there’s nothing amusing about getting ready for work or an evening out and struggling to tug on shapewear. Getting dressed shouldn’t be something you dread.

You’re concerned about the lasting effects: Compressing internal organs for an extended period of time can actually be harmful. Acid reflux, bloating, and even incontinence can result from wearing shapewear. Another potential health hazard is urinary tract infection resulting from delaying going to the bathroom because of the hassle involved. These risks are especially true if you wear shapewear to work every day.

Those bulges are bulging too much: You can only ask so much of shapewear. These garments work well for creating a smoother, flatter stomach or make the flanks slimmer when there is just a bit of extra fat. At some point, however, liposuction can provide a solution that enables you to better fit into all of your clothes without the additional layers of shapewear.

A long-term solution is attractive: Feeling confident and good about your body—whether you’re wearing clothes or not—is the ultimate goal. Liposuction is a safe and effective solution that can significantly minimize the stubborn pockets of fat that you’re tired of trying to hide. This is especially true for patients who lead healthy and active lifestyles, but who just can’t shed excess fat from certain trouble spots.

If you look at liposuction before-and-after photos of my actual patients in our gallery, you’ll see the dramatic results that this procedure can produce. If you’ve been considering liposuction, contact us using the online form to request a consultation or call either one of our offices at (480) 466-7355 (Gilbert) or (480) 423-1973 (Paradise Valley) to schedule an appointment.

Considering a major plastic surgery procedure like liposuction in Scottsdale, AZ involves many important decisions: whom to choose as your surgeon, what area of the body to treat, and what liposuction technique to choose. But another major decision is deciding if you should tell others you’ve had liposuction.

I have clients who love telling their friends and family about their experience. I also have others who want to maintain their privacy. What you do or don’t share is ultimately up to you–and neither is right nor wrong.

No matter which path you choose, here are some things to consider:

Liposuction Is Not as Obvious as You Think

For those who’d rather fly under the radar, the good news is liposuction isn’t something everyone will notice. Many of my patients say that they are happily surprised when they return to work and their co-workers ask, “Did you lose weight?” rather than, “Did you have something done?”

If you prefer to be discrete, here are a few additional tactics to keep it subtle:

Consider making another visible change at the same time. You can distract from your new figure by changing up some other aspect of your appearance. Sometimes people will get a new haircut, change their makeup, or apply self-tanner to keep the focus off their slimmer physique.

Be mindful of the timing and season. Many women and men have liposuction done a few months before important events or holidays. This gives them enough time to recover and also gives the appearance of natural weight loss.

You Don’t Have to Share with Everyone

Sharing your story doesn’t mean you have to tell the world. If you feel comfortable enough, there is always the option of telling only a few close friends in your inner circle. This is especially true if you know your results are going to be a significant change, because the people who know you best are more likely to notice. By letting close friends and family members know beforehand, they won’t be caught off-guard later.

You Can Be Loud and Proud

In the age of social media and selfies, some people choose to make their plastic surgery procedure public knowledge. Take Chrissy Teigen, for example. She had no problem sharing with her social media followers that she’d had armpit liposuction—a procedure some people might want to keep to themselves.

But Teigen wasn’t shy about her decision, and many people aren’t. If you had a positive experience and want to share it with a wide audience, you should. You might even help someone else who is also considering making this important decision.

To find out more about your potential with liposuction, contact us using the online form or call our office in Paradise Valley at (480) 423-1973 or our office in Gilbert at (480) 466-7355 to schedule an appointment.

A tummy tuck can be a truly transformative procedure for women who have had children. That’s because surgery is the only way to remove the permanently stretched abdominal skin that moms are often left with after one or more pregnancies. For moms who exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet, the excess skin can be especially frustrating. The tummy tuck patients I see at my Scottsdale-area practice are often among the most satisfied individuals I treat.

Even though a tummy tuck can benefit anyone who has lost significant weight and has loose abdominal skin, the most common patients are women who have had children. Skin and abdominal muscles stretched by pregnancy often remain lax after a baby is born. Surgery is really the only option for women who want to regain their pre-pregnancy shapes.

What I’d like to do in this blog post is provide some advice for women considering post-pregnancy tummy tuck surgery to help them understand what the procedure involves and when to get a tummy tuck.

Customized Procedure

The changes to a woman’s body after pregnancy can be profound, but no 2 women have the same experience. I actually specialize in 3 distinct tummy tuck techniques to address each patient’s unique concerns. During the consultation, I explain the various techniques, which include:

Full tummy tuck: This is the most common type of tummy tuck for women after pregnancies. During this procedure, I make a horizontal incision from one hip to the other. I make it as low as possible so that it can be concealed by bikini bottoms. Besides removing excess skin, a full tummy tuck may involve repairing abdominal muscles separated during pregnancy. The belly button usually needs to be repositioned, and I typically recommend liposuction to ensure smooth, contoured results.

Mini tummy tuck: In some cases, the sagging skin is confined to the area below the belly button. A mini tummy tuck, which requires a much smaller incision, can be appropriate under those circumstances.

Circumferential abdominoplasty: Sometimes called a “belt lipectomy,” this procedure is designed to remove excess skin from both the abdomen and the back in addition to elevating the buttocks. It’s performed most often for patients after massive weight loss following bariatric surgery but might be the correct surgical path for some women after they’ve had children.

When Should You Get a Tummy Tuck?

The question of timing is one that’s especially important for women who have recently had a child. The factors that can affect when someone should get a tummy tuck include:

Are you still breastfeeding?

Hormonal changes occur both during and after breastfeeding, causing a mother’s weight to fluctuate significantly. Because it’s best to be at a stable weight before scheduling a tummy tuck, I recommend waiting at least 3 months after you stop breastfeeding to allow hormone levels to return to normal.

Have you reached your target weight?

A target weight is a weight that you can successfully maintain following the procedure. Being at a stable weight that you can maintain before body contouring surgery greatly increases the likelihood that you’ll be happy with the results. I often combine liposuction with tummy tuck surgery to remove stubborn areas of fat and create a smooth, contoured outcome. I also recommend that my patients have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 30 before undergoing surgery. Countless studies show increased post-op complications for tummy tuck patients who have a BMI over 30.

Do you plan to have more children?

One of the most common questions plastic surgeons hear from women considering tummy tuck surgery is whether they can have additional children after having the procedure. The answer is yes, but with a significant qualification. It’s likely that a pregnancy after getting a tummy tuck will again stretch the skin and abdominal muscles, undoing the results of the cosmetic surgery. I recommend to women thinking about having another child within 2 or 3 years to hold off on getting a tummy tuck.

Some women with young children at home choose to wait until their kids are a bit older to get a tummy tuck. It’s important to remember that you won’t be able to lift a baby or toddler for at least a week after the surgery, and you’ll need someone to provide child care during the initial stages of your recovery.

If you’re considering getting a tummy tuck, our before-and-after photos showing actual patients reveal how dramatic the results can be, and I invite you to look at them.

If you’re interested in learning more about the procedure or other cosmetic surgery options, request a consultation using the online form or call us at (480) 423-1973 to schedule an appointment.

Liposuction is the go-to procedure for removing fat from the abdomen, buttocks, hips, and thighs. But when patients come to my Scottsdale practice for liposuction, they often ask if this popular treatment can be used on other areas of the body. I’m always pleased to explain that advances in this surgical procedure make it a good solution for removing fat and creating dramatic changes in several areas of the body.

Where Else Can Liposuction Work?

In addition to trimming down the midsection and upper legs, liposuction can help contour these areas of your body:

Back – Both men and women are often surprised to learn that liposuction can remove pockets of fat and stubborn rolls on the back. Additionally, many women are concerned with fat that bulges out from under their bra, sometimes known as bra fat. Because back skin is thicker and back fat is denser than fat on the abdomen or thighs, it’s important to select a skilled surgeon who understands and has proven experience performing liposuction on these different parts of the body.

Chin – As we age, fat can accumulate below our chin, called the submental area, creating what is often referred to as a double chin. Liposuction can effectively reduce this bothersome extra fat to create a more defined neck and jawline. To precisely remove the predetermined amount of fat, I use a smaller-size cannula (tube) on the submental area than I uses on the midsection or buttocks.

Arms – Excess fat on the arms can make clothing feel tight and be aesthetically bothersome for people who want to confidently bare their arms. Liposuction is an excellent way to remove fat in and around the arm area. In fact, in 2017 model and spokesperson Chrissy Teigen admitted to getting liposuction on her armpits, which she explained made her “feel better in dresses.”

Breasts/chest – Women considering breast reduction often assume they need surgery to remove excess breast tissue. However, liposuction of the breasts can sometimes provide a less-invasive option with highly satisfactory results. Men concerned about feminine looking “breasts” caused by excess fat in this area often undergo liposuction for a more sculpted chest. It’s important to have an honest discussion with your surgeon about what outcome you envision from your breast reduction. With this information, plus an assessment of your overall health and lifestyle, your doctor can determine if breast liposuction is right for you.

Why Consider Liposuction?

Let’s be clear that liposuction is not a replacement for maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise program. However, if you’re near your goal weight and are in good general health, liposuction can be an excellent technique to sculpt your physique. Liposuction can help you:

Reduce fat deposits that don’t respond to diet or exercise

Achieve a slimmer look

Create a more proportional appearance

Improve your confidence

What About Results and Recovery?

Immediately after liposuction, you will be able to see physical changes in the treated area, but your body will need time to heal to reveal complete results. Most patients require at least a week to recover and usually remain off work during this time. You will likely wear compression garments for the first week, after which you’ll return to our office to have your sutures removed. Swelling may continue beyond this time, but by carefully following your doctor’s post-op instructions, you’ll help your body recover and will soon be ready to share your new look.

Knowing If Liposuction Is Right for You

The best way to know if liposuction is the best option for achieving your aesthetic goals is to do some research on the procedure and then have an honest discussion with your surgeon. In my practice, I know that every patient’s motives and goals are unique, so want to clearly understand each patient’s concerns so I can determine if liposuction or another option is the best way to proceed.

To get an idea how liposuction might work for you, visit our photo gallery to see real liposuction patients’ before-and-after photos. If you want to learn more about the procedure or discuss your body contouring options, request a consultation online or give us a call at (480) 423-1973.

The midsection is one of the most common problem areas for both men and women alike, and we offer various surgical and nonsurgical body contouring procedures to fit each patient’s needs. CoolSculpting®, liposuction, or tummy tuck surgery at our Scottsdale, AZ plastic surgery center can help you finally eliminate your unwanted bumps and bulges. During your consultation, we can discuss your concerns and recommend a treatment that will help you reach your cosmetic goals.

CoolSculpting

CoolSculptingis a non-invasive treatment that uses precise cooling to eliminate fat cells from not only the abdomen, but also from the flanks, back, hips, and thighs. Fat cells freeze at a higher temperature than other cells, so CoolSculpting can target specific areas of fat without damaging the surrounding tissues.

You may be a good candidate for CoolSculpting if you:

Have stubborn pockets of fat that won’t shrink regardless of good diet and regular exercise

Have “pinch-able” areas of fat without loose skin

Have good skin elasticity

Are within 10 pounds of your ideal weight

Are willing to wait for gradual results

Have no time for recovery

Do not want surgery

After treatment, the fat cells will gradually die and be naturally eliminated from the body, and you will begin to notice results in as little as 3 weeks. The most dramatic results will be apparent after about 3 months. One CoolSculpting session can get rid of up to 25% of fat cells in a given area. Often patients schedule multiple treatments to achieve optimal results.

Liposuction

Liposuction is one of the most popular surgical body contouring procedures available because it can effectively reshape and permanently remove stubborn fat from the abdomen and other areas of the body. During the procedure, a tiny suction tube gets rid of excess fat to provide patients with improved proportions and a slimmer body contour.

You may be a good candidate for liposuction if you:

Have localized areas of fat without loose skin

Are within 10 pounds of your ideal weight

Want quicker and more dramatic results

We offer 3 liposuction techniques to choose from:

Tumescent liposuction is done without general anesthesia and uses a special saline mixture to significantly reduce bruising and bleeding.

Suction-assisted liposuction is the traditional method for liposuction that has been performed on countless patients around the world.

Recovery for liposuction is fairly fast, and you can return to work within a few days. You will be able to see noticeable results immediately, and improvements will continue to appear over the course of 6 months as swelling subsides.

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck can often correct in a few hours what years of diet and exercise have been unable to achieve. Also called abdominoplasty, this procedure provides the most dramatic results of the 3 body contouring options. It is often combined with liposuction to correct loose skin and excess fat in one surgery.

You may be a good candidate for abdominoplasty if you:

Have permanently stretched abdominal skin due to pregnancy or weight loss

Have separated or loosened abdominal muscles

Have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or less

Want optimal results

We offer 3 types of tummy tucks:

A full tummy tuck addresses the entire abdomen and requires an incision from roughly hip to hip and another around the belly button.

A mini tummy tuck treats only the lower abdomen and is reserved for younger patients with mild to moderate skin laxity.

A circumferential abdominoplasty is a more extensive procedure for patients who have lost significant weight.

You will be able to see improvements immediately after your tummy tuck procedure, and these results will continue to improve over the following year. Most patients can return to work after about 2 weeks. If your job requires physical labor, you may need to take off more time.

If you’re considering a surgical approach, you can learn more in these blog posts about liposuction and tummy tuck. Additionally, our photo gallery of before-and-after photos will help you envision the type of results you can achieve.

If you want to discuss your options, contact us online. You can also call our Gilbert office at (480) 466-7355 or our Paradise Valley office at (480) 423-1973 to schedule an appointment.

Getting rid of excess fat remains one of the most common reasons people go to a plastic surgery practice. At my Scottsdale-area locations, we offer a range of surgical and nonsurgical fat removal options. Some, such as liposuction, are familiar and have a long track record of producing excellent outcomes. We’ve also incorporated newer techniques, but only those clinically proven to be safe and effective.

Getting the best possible results begins with choosing the appropriate treatment. Doing that requires taking several things into consideration. Those include:

How dramatic are the results you want to achieve?

Liposuction can get rid of significant fat deposits in the abdomen, flanks, hips, thighs, arms, and submental (below the chin) area. Additionally, the results will be noticeable immediately. The dramatic results produced by liposuction is one of the reasons it is consistently among the top 5 most popular procedures in North America for both men and women. Many patients are willing to undergo a more invasive procedure after seeing pictures of the results.

We offer tumescent liposuction, suction-assisted liposuction, and ultrasound-assisted liposuction at my Gilbert and Paradise Valley locations. All of these options are surgical and provide patients with instant and noticeable results. Liposuction can achieve a thinner appearance, reduce exercise-resistant fat deposits, and create a more proportional figure.

How invasive of a procedure are you prepared for?

For people that are at, or close, to their target weight, the nonsurgical options may be right for you. Nonsurgical body contouring options can target localized fat deposits, as opposed to a more comprehensive surgical option. These procedures can tone areas that resist exercise and diet, but won’t match the results achieved with liposuction.

Noninvasive procedures have results that present themselves over the following 6 months after treatment. They can be a good option for patients who don’t want to deal with anesthesia and other elements that come with surgery. With time, these noninvasive options can achieve beautiful and natural-looking results.

How much downtime can you afford?

Liposuction requires some time off of work and a gradual return to regular activities. The specific recovery times are based on which method of liposuction you choose, and the location and size of the area treated. Swelling and bruising should fade within about a week. Some patients experience minor soreness for several weeks.

The nonsurgical options have virtually no downtime, so patients can return to their normal daily activities directly after treatment. Patients that have rigorous work schedules or cannot afford to take time off work can be good candidates for a nonsurgical option. The nonsurgical treatments are often called “lunchtime procedures” because the treatments can often be completed in an hour or less.

What are the nonsurgical fat removal alternatives?

CoolSculpting® is an FDA-cleared procedure that reduces fat by chilling the fat cells. Depending on the area or areas treated, the treatment takes about an hour and people often read, check email, or even nap during the procedure. Most patients experience little discomfort—the cold sensation can be intense initially, but the area quickly becomes numb. Some patients choose to undergo multiple treatments to maximize their results.

Cellfina™ is an effective cellulite treatment that smooths out dimples and divots caused by fibrous bands of connective tissue under the skin. Cellfina procedures begin by numbing the treatment area with local anesthetic. Then we use a small handpiece that cuts the tissue bands that cause cellulite. There is no need for sutures—the areas will heal on their own.

I encourage patients that are considering one of these fat-removal procedures to check out my gallery of before-and-after photos. If you want to learn more about your options, request a consultation or give us a call at (480) 423-1973.

I’ll begin by stating the obvious: Getting rid of fat is difficult. Good nutrition, portion control, and working out regularly are great lifestyle habits, but sometimes those are not enough to flatten your tummy, shrink saddlebags, or get rid of that upper arm jiggle. Women and men who come to my Gilbert plastic surgery practice near Chandler, Arizona are looking for ways to lose these stubborn pockets of fat.

But not all fat is created equal. Different types of fat respond to different treatments, and deciding on your best treatment approach involves determining which type of fat is causing your unwanted bulges. In this post, I’ll explain the 4 different types of fat, in what part of the body they typically occur, and the best body contouring treatments for each type.

Fluffy Fat

That soft, jiggly fat that accumulates below the skin, but above the muscle (called subcutaneous fat) tends to develop in women more than men. It shows up on stomachs, hips, thighs, and the back of the arms. Women’s hormones signal the body to keep this lighter weight fat (in case they become pregnant), so it’s often more difficult to get rid of than other types of fat. Putting in extra time at the gym often doesn’t yield the expected results when it comes to fluffy fat.

Best Treatment: Liposuction targets stubborn fat. I often use Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL), which is gentler than traditional liposuction. UAL uses ultrasound energy to break up the fat, whereas traditional liposuction requires a surgeon to manually break apart fatty tissue using the liposuction wand. In some cases, patients can benefit from nonsurgical fat reduction. CoolSculpting® is completely non-invasive and doesn’t require downtime following the treatment.

Fibrous Fat

This is also subcutaneous fat, but is tougher than fluffy fat. Fibrous fat isn’t easy to shed through dieting and exercise because the fibers that form around and between fat cells make it more difficult for the body to use that fat for energy. This type of fat may begin as fluffy fat, but be compressed by tight clothes and become fibrous. Think of the rolls of fat that develop around bras. That is fibrous fat.

BestTreatment: CoolSculpting is an excellent treatment option for fibrous fat. With various applicators specially designed to fit specific areas of the body, CoolSculpting works by lowering the temperature of the fat cells until they begin to die. The cooling process doesn’t damage skin or other tissues because fat cells can be destroyed at temperatures that are safe for other cells.

Cellulite

Contrary to what many people believe, cellulite is a condition that occurs when fat cells get trapped in the skin’s lower layers. It often has nothing to do with a person’s weight, which is why about 90% of women have cellulite. So losing weight doesn’t significantly change the appearance of cellulite. Only by releasing the bands of tissue that pull on the bottom layers of skin can cellulite be reduced.

Best Treatment: Cellfina® is a breakthrough, minimally invasive procedure that gets long-lasting results. Supported by clinical studies, Cellfina works by precisely cutting the connective tissue using a microblade. The blade is so small that no sutures are needed.

Firm (Visceral) Fat

This is the only fat of the 4 types described here that isn’t subcutaneous fat. Instead, firm fat accumulates below muscles, surrounding internal organs in the abdominal area. This isn’t the fat you feel when you pinch your waist. Because it’s covered by muscle, liposuction or nonsurgical treatments cannot effectively reduce visceral fat.

Best Treatment: Combining exercise and a healthy diet is the best way to reduce firm fat. Unlike subcutaneous fat, visceral fat is relatively quick to respond to lifestyle changes. It represents a significant percentage of the overall weight loss achieved.

The best way to learn how much of your fat is subcutaneous and how much is visceral is by scheduling a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. In most cases, combining a healthy lifestyle with a cosmetic treatment can produce the best results.

Fat Reduction Before-and-After Photos

You can see the results produced by different types of treatments for subcutaneous fat:

Mommy makeover is a perennial favorite at our practice (and many, many others), thanks to its incredible versatility and potentially transformative results. In case you’re unclear on what a mommy makeover entails: The phrase “mommy makeover” doesn’t refer to one specific procedure. Instead, it’s a combination of procedures that are performed in a single surgery to treat multiple areas of the body at once. Typically, a mommy makeover at my Scottsdale practice includes breast augmentation and tummy tuck, but it can be adjusted and customized in the spirit of the same goal: reversing the changes brought on by pregnancy and breastfeeding.

But while a mommy makeover can be tweaked to meet your precise goals, the options aren’t necessarily limitless. For example, the general rule of thumb in elective surgery is to avoid the use of general anesthesia for longer than 6 hours. Once the 6-hour mark is reached, the risk of complications goes up.

Plastic surgeons and other doctors who perform elective procedures typically avoid surgeries that require 6 or more hours of general anesthesia. For this reason, performing a facelift, tummy tuck, and breast reduction in a single surgery isn’t practical.

Another important consideration is the recovery process — specifically, the physical demands required of each procedure. While it may seem like a great idea to undergo a breast augmentation at the same time as a Brazilian butt lift, consider the fact that BBL recovery requires patients to sleep on their stomachs, while breast augmentation recovery requires patients to sleep on their backs.

Not sure where to begin? I can help you establish your goals during your consultation. Whatever procedures you ultimately choose, it’s important to have a clear idea of your goals (as well as your limits). Together, we can work toward a smooth experience — and beautiful results.

Since its rise in its popularity a few years ago, Brazilian butt lift has remained as hot as ever here in Scottsdale. Just like any other plastic surgery procedure, it has a necessary recuperation period — but it’s a bit different from the norm. When most people imagine taking some downtime to rest after surgery, they usually envision kicking back on the couch or propped up in bed. But since Brazilian butt lift involves the part of your body that you typically sit on, recuperation afterward may look a bit different from your plans.

Properly positioning yourself, then, becomes important.

You’ll be able to head home on the same day as your procedure. It’s imperative that a friend or family member helps you get home, since you’ll need to lie on your front side in the car. Throughout the initial phase of your recovery, in fact, you’ll need to put as little pressure on your buttocks as possible. This means you should lie on your abdomen or side while you sleep, and you should maintain the same position while you watch TV or rest.

Don’t mistake that for a license to lie around all day long, though. Even something as simple as walking around the house may feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s important to stay (lightly) mobile because it reduces the risk of blood clots.

Different patients feel ready to return to work and other normal activities at different rates. In my experience, it typically takes between 1 and 2 weeks for my Brazilian butt lift patients to comfortably return to the office. Depending on the type of work you do, a special pillow on your seat can help. If you feel comfortable doing so, it’s helpful to ask your manager about what other accommodations your workplace may be able to provide. Switching to a standing desk, for example, would help keep pressure off of your buttocks for most of the day.

Exercise is a different story. Because the buttocks play such a vital role in stabilizing the body, it’s important to take several weeks away from strenuous activity. This gives the muscles the opportunity to heal undisturbed, resulting in an attractive final outcome (and it’s important to always keep that end goal in mind).

Above all, it’s important to remember that each patient — and each experience — is different. During your consultation, we’ll discuss the specifics of your procedure, and I’ll do my best to ensure you know exactly what to expect.